Robert Joseph Donovan

December 20, 2022

Robert Joseph “Bob” Donovan of Keevil, Arkansas, a well-respected Arkansas attorney and judge, passed on December 9th surrounded by family. Born on a farm, his parents Robert Thomas “Tom” and Fern Sanner Donovan of Keevil, Arkansas instilled in him a profound love for and dedication to family, a deep and devout Catholic faith, and a strong moral compass.

He earned a degree in Agricultural Science from Arkansas A & M College. While there, he started for three years at middle linebacker under well-known football coach Jimmy Dale “Red” Parker and was captain of the team for his last two years. He went on to law school at University of Arkansas Fayetteville and earned his Juris Doctorate. During law school, Mr. Donovan also served as a lieutenant in the National Guard.

Mr. Donovan practiced law for more than 50 years and was a partner at Daggett, Donovan, & Perry Law Firm of Marianna, Arkansas. He served many years as City Attorney for Marianna and as Judge for the Lee County District Court in Arkansas. He was Board Certified and maintained an A rating with Martindale Hubble for the entirety of his career.

Guided by a dedicated sense of justice for all, Mr. Donovan championed the rights of those who were underserved, especially regarding mental health. In a landmark decision by the Arkansas Supreme Court, which was later cited by the U.S. Supreme Court, Mr. Donovan opened the door for mental health services to be covered by medical insurance.

Later, Mr. Donovan was invited by The Center for International Legal Studies to teach western law concepts to students from eastern European nations formerly controlled by the Soviet Union. He trained in Austria and taught at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia.

While Mr. Donovan had a long, fulfilling career in law, he stayed true to his roots. He spent his life improving and expanding his parents’ farm, which has been in the Donovan family since 1837. Throughout his life, Mr. Donovan remained devoted to his immediate family and was adoringly known as Big Daddy by all who knew and loved him on a personal level.

He is survived by his loving wife Joan Thigpen Donovan of Brinkley, Arkansas; his daughters Catherine Deshea Donovan, and Ashley Donovan Perry of Nashville, Tennessee; and three grandchildren, George Graham Perry IV, William Donovan Perry, and Taylor Ashley Mitchell. He was preceded in death by his sister, Shirley Donovan.

A visitation will be held Friday, December 16, 2022 at 11 am at St. John’s Catholic Church in Brinkley, AR followed by mass/service at 11:30 am. Mr. Donovan will be buried at St. John’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/give/memorials-and-dedications.html) with acknowledgements to donovanfarms2016@gmail.com; St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Marianna, AR; and/or St. John’s Catholic Church in Brinkley, AR.